The Best Way To Deal With A Asthma Attack

                    

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Asthma is a common lung disease that affects both children and adults. The disease causes the airways of the lungs to become narrowed or even blocked, making breathing very difficult. Close to 20 million Americans are affected by asthma.

Generally, asthma is divided into two categories, allergic and non-allergic. Allergic asthma or extrinsic asthma is triggered by an allergic reaction to something. The allergic reaction is partially treatable with the right medicine. Nearly 50% of Americans suffering from asthma have allergic asthma. Symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness. Triggers include dust mites, pollen, mold and other inhaled allergens.

Things like cold air, anxiety, stress and exercise bring on non-allergic or intrinsic asthma. Symptoms of non-allergic asthma are very similar to allergic asthma. Again, the airway is obstructed and inflammation occurs and is partially treatable. The immune system is not affected by non-allergic asthma.

There are many myths surrounding asthma. Therefore, it is important to know the facts about asthma. Asthma is not curable but rather treatable.

The first step in dealing with asthma attacks is to be properly diagnosed by a doctor. Once you have been formally diagnosed with asthma, your doctor will find a treatment regimen that works best for you.

Although there are hundreds of asthma medications on the market, there are two basic categories. There are controller medicines, ones that are used to manage the symptoms and quick relief medicines, ones that are used when an asthma attack occurs.

With a few simple steps, you can control your asthma. First, get away from what is triggering the asthma attack. Whether it is pollen, mold, dust mites or smoke, try to get away from it. Next, judge how severe the attack is. Sometimes you might be able to judge the attack solely on how you feel. But a more accurate assessment is to measure your exhales on a peak flow meter.

After you have assessed the severity of the attack, try to suppress the inflammation. You will need to treat the constricted muscles and the overproduction of mucus. For a severe attack, you may need a prescription steroid.

Be sure to know when to call for help. Asthma attacks that are severe can be very dangerous. If after taking the first few steps, you don't feel better, seek help from your doctor or call 911.

SUMMARY: There are many myths surrounding asthma. However, if you know the truth about asthma, it can help save your life and make living with it a lot easier.

Nigel Martin writes for Asthma Informer a website packed with advice about asthma

Asthma and Peak Flow

                    

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Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that constricts and inflames the airways. This causes excess mucus to form in the lungs and a narrowing of the airways that causes the symptoms of wheezing, shortness or breath, coughing, and tightness in the chest. A severe constriction of the airways, often caused by allergens or excessive exercise, is called an asthma attack.

One way that people with asthma can detect if they are going to have an asthma attack is by measuring their peak expiratory flow or peak flow for short. Peak flow measures how fast a person breathes out when that person tries his or her hardest. Basically, it tells a person how well his or her lungs and airways are working. This is often measured with a peak flow meter, a small analog or digital device that a person breathes into.

Peak flow assists people with asthma by telling them that an asthma attack is likely to occur. If a person's peak flow is low then the person's asthma is bothering him or her and the likelihood of an attack increases. This may be caused by triggers that increase the asthma symptoms such as pollen, cigarette smoke, or dust. A peak flow meter can help a person detect these triggers and steps can be made to remove the person from the triggers.

Measuring peak flow is also often used to access if certain asthma medications are helping a person or not. If a person's peak flow measurement is low then it may be a cue to change or increase medications to alleviate the asthma symptoms and prevent the likelihood of an asthma attack. If a peak flow is very high, then it may be possible to reduce the dosage of medications. No changes to medications should be made without the consultation of the doctor.

Asthma is a very serious disease that affects millions of children and adults worldwide. If you or someone you know has asthma, you owe it to yourself to learn all that you can about this chronic respiratory disease.


Daniel Lanicek is an life long sufferer of asthma on a mission to heighten world awareness of asthma. Over 14 million people in the United States alone suffer from asthma and there are ways you can help. Learn more about asthma at http://www.asthmaexplained.com

The Asthma Society

                    

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The Asthma Society is an organization that is generally affiliated with various countries. If you are someone that is looking for information about asthma, working with any of these societies that are geared towards providing relevant information that you need is a great place to start. For many people that visit these society pages, the goal is to learn about what asthma is and how in the world you will learn to deal with and even live with it. Many of those that visit the society are looking for more information about asthma because they have just been told by their doctors that they have asthma or that they may have it.

What is important to take note of when visiting any society's website to learn more about asthma is that your condition is not alone. Today, there are many millions of people that have asthma and live with it day in and day out. Asthma does become a condition that you need to manage but when you do so carefully, following the recommendations that the society for asthma as well as your doctor tell you, you can lead a normal life without worrying about asthma every day of it.

Another benefit of any of the asthma societies that you will find throughout the web is the wide range of new treatment options available. There are always tests and clinical studies being done to help aid those that are suffering from asthma to get relief. New medications, new treatments, and even new diagnosing tools are something that can offer a bit of help to those that are looking for a solution to their asthma condition. Best of all, when you visit the society's website, you will also learn that you are not the only person that is struggling with asthma and therefore you can get through it.

Roger Thompson Wrties about health related articles and jobs for The Number one Healthcare Job Site He also advises consumers on online products.

Asthma, the Buteyko method 6 Edit

                    

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With more Buteyko exercises, you will eventually be able to come off all of your Asthma medication. First your relievers, then in time your preventatives. This is only possible if your triggers are exercise, temperature and some allergens (ie: it is possible for some people who are allergic to dust, grasses, pollens and smoke) etc. I don't think Buteyko would help with a food allergy induced Asthma as food is ingested, not inhaled.

Buteyko works for the exercise type triggers because you simply implement the "exercising with less oxygen" theory and your body no longer needs to shut down the esophagus. For allergens, the nose acts as a filter, not allowing the offending particles into your lungs where they usually wreak havoc (a large portion of Asthmatics are mouth breathers). Similarly for temperature, your nose acts as a regulator, altering the temperature of the air before it hits your lungs.

There is one last technique I haven't mentioned yet - but I will write one last article about it as I think it is important both for Asthmatics and also for Non-asthmatics. It's a little weird, but I have convinced many of my Non-asthmatic friends to try it and many of them swear by it! See next week for details!

http://www.bedelish.com

ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA

                    

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Among all allergic and respiratory-related diseases, asthma makes up the majority. Asthma is perhaps one of the leading causes of respiratory illness among children and young adults although this condition may progress a lifetime.

While it is considered an allergy, asthma is so prevalent (especially among children) that it deserves to be addressed in its own chapter.

Proper care and health maintenance is essential to warding off the debilitating repercussions of exposure to irritants which could trigger all the symptoms underlying such disease.

The following information provides you with all of the basic need-to-know information about asthma, its exact nature, progression of the disease and current medical treatment in place to treat the symptoms manifested by patients.

What exactly is Asthma?

Asthma is a chronic lung disease characterized by difficulty of breathing, wheezing, coughing, and increased mucus production during recurrent attacks. These same symptoms can cause death in some cases depending on the severity of the amount of allergens involved and antihistamine molecules produced by the body enough to block the airways for the transportation of air to the lungs.

Around 7 to 10% of children experience the condition and current statistics shows an increasing number of sufferers. Asthma does not seem to be an inherited disease since a family member, who apparently do not have relatives exhibiting the symptoms of the disease, can be infected anytime should he or she is exposed to environmental factors triggering the onset of the disease.

People with this medical condition have a very sensitive bronchial pathway. Presence of molecules or particles recognized by the body as foreign can set a huge allergic attack characteristic of the condition described above.

From a medical point of view, asthma is a type of allergy. Allergy is defined as a change in the body's biological activity due to the presence of one or more types of allergens (substance promoting the symptoms of allergy.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans are suffering from allergy and currently 20 million individuals, comprising the wide-range of America's population experiences the symptoms of asthma.

Causes of Asthma

Causes of asthma can be in the form of dust, certain chemicals, scents, and various odors. Other trigger factors may be in the form of temperature. Cold or hot air can provoke allergic reactions to patients sensitive to them. In any case, allergic reactions are specific to individuals and not all individuals suffering from allergy responds universally to all types allergens.

Particularly interesting clients are the ones allergic to some forms of physical activity like exercise. In the same manner, emotional state is one factor for some individuals in order for the characteristic asthma symptoms to set in.

Among all these influential agents, smoke has been found to occupy the universally recognized trigger attacks for patients with asthma especially for children. At least 8 out of 10 children are more prone to developing asthmatic conditions once exposed to these agents.

Perhaps, as society becomes industrialized and increased fume emissions accelerates, more and more people will develop symptoms characteristic of this disease. Ken Cheong contributes to two health websites, http://www.quick-pain-relief.com and http://www.health-wellness-care.com. You will find more free health and wellness articles in these websites.

ASTHMA AND YOU.

                    

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History

Many people that have Asthma, may have an individual and/or family history of allergies. To diagnose asthma, a doctor relies solely on taking a medical history and combines it with a physical examination.

Allergies.

Allergy testing may be may be helpful in identifying allergens, but in sensitive individuals, asthma symptoms can be triggered by inhaled allergens (allergy triggers), such as pet hair, dust mites, moulds or pollens. Patients with delayed pattern food allergy have the most persistent inflammatory form of chronic asthma. Those who have a nasal allergy often have asthma that may be triggered by it.

Developing Asthma.

Half of the people who have asthma develop it before they are 10 years old, and most develop it before 30. There are people who develop allergic asthma in their 70s and there are young children whose asthma is not allergic. Children with asthma often complain of an itchy upper chest or develop a dry cough, which may be the only sign of asthma.

Asthma Attacks.

During an attack, the smooth muscles of the lungs go into spasm, with the surrounding tissue enflamed and secreting mucus into the airways. The causes of an attack are, however, well understood by both doctors and patients. Child care providers need to recognise when a child is suffering an attack in order to prevent severe and prolonged effects. Nonetheless, an acute attack usually occurs during a cold or cough caused by a viral infection. Pay attention to worsening asthma as it may prevent a serious attack.

Smoking and Asthma.

Cigarette smoke is a powerful trigger of symptoms. Children born prematurely or those exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to develop the disease. Prenatal and post postnatal exposure to second-hand smoke is indicated in the development of asthma. Non-smoking messages should be advertised in schools to reduce the likelihood of children smoking and thus be prone to asthma.

Stress and Asthma.

Stress could aggravate the disease in children according to a London University's research. It is well known that fighting stress helps fight asthma. People think that there is a connection between genetic makeup and the disease. There isn't - it only makes one more susceptible. If asthma is triggered by emotional stress, then a stress reduction programme could be considered. Sport during the summer causes less stress than during the winter. Exercise induced asthma occurs most often during intense activity in cold dry air.

Can it be Contolled?

Yes, it can! With good control almost all people can lead normal, active lives. Control medication on a regular basis helps prevent symptoms from occurring. When asthma is not under control, the airways become restricted and inflamed, with increased mucus production that further obstructs the airways. To keep it under control, it is important to be well educated about your asthma and how to manage it.

Known Allergens.

Allergies are triggers for asthma. If you are allergic to pets, certain foods, dust mites etc, remove them from your environment wherever possible. Be asthma aware. Every asthmatic responds differently to triggers. As a parent, try not to be overly protective of an asthmatic child. The key to living with the disease is to be very aware. If you need to carry medication make sure you always have it with you, and NEVER run our of it. Make sure you always have a backup, in the car, at home or in the office. Encourage children to emulate what you preach.

Finally, approximately one quarter of asthmatic children have their symptoms disappear as they grow older - yes it is possible to grow out of the disease!

Tony Bryan

Tony runs many health related web sites, the main one at http://www.healthwyse-one.com. This article may be reprinted providing the 'About the Author' box is also printed, otherwise, Copyright will be pursued

What Are Some Natural Asthma Remedies?

                    

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Most asthma sufferers are familiar with the inhalers and oral remedies prescribed by their doctors for the treatment of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath that accompany an asthmatic episode. While these medicines are typically effective in the treatment of the condition, there are people who may prefer a more natural approach to asthma relief, for a variety of reasons. Some people want more natural remedies.

Any drug introduced to the body has the potential for unpleasant side effects; short term reactions such as nausea and long term concerns such as potential permanent damage from steroids used to decrease inflammation in the lung tissues. There has been ongoing controversy in the medical community regarding the safety and advisability of steroid use. While these can be life-saving, there is concern that the steroids may cause irreversible damage such as muscle weakness and bone loss. To minimize the frequency of use, the asthma sufferer can make some dietary and lifestyle changes to help reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack.

The best ?natural? defense against an asthmatic episode is to avoid known triggers. People with sensitivity to tobacco smoke should obviously stay away from it; and if your trigger is cat dander, you?ll just have to avoid petting the kittens in the pet store ? no matter how adorable. Stay indoors on ?high pollen? days if that is your trigger and always try to keep stress levels down. Using common sense is the first step toward lowering frequency of asthmatic episodes.

Asthma sufferers can also make healthy changes to their diets which can minimize asthma symptoms. Beyond avoiding known dietary triggers such as food allergies, nutritional supplements in the form of necessary vitamins and minerals can go a long way toward minimizing asthma attacks. Nutritional deficiencies make for a weakened system that isn?t able to effectively fight unexpected environmental triggers. Asthmatics need to exercise care even when using natural supplements. Make sure supplements are hypo-allergenic so as not to react to those! The need for certain vitamins and minerals may be greater among asthma sufferers than the average person as the condition itself tends to contribute to certain deficiencies. A good multi-vitamin is recommended to compensate for these deficiencies and make for a healthier body, better equipped to ward off reactions. Asthmatics also tend to have very low magnesium levels ? a mineral that helps relax bronchial tubes ? so a supplemental dose may be advisable. Finally, Vitamin C is believed to improve bronchial functioning.

More and more people are turning to herbal remedies to find relief from asthma symptoms. While most herbal supplements are not evaluated or endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration, there have been reports of success among those who have used them. Tylophora indica, used in Auyervedic medicine in India, has been getting a lot of positive attention thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, some individuals treated with the herb, Boswellia, reported a reduced number of asthma attacks. Butterbur is another promising herb shown to be as effective as traditional antihistamines in initial studies. As conclusive studies have not been done on most herbal remedies, the asthma sufferer is advised to be cautious when experimenting with these.

While it is possible to relieve symptoms of asthma, and reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack by avoiding known triggers, making lifestyle and dietary changes, and using certain herbal remedies, it is imperative to listen to your healthcare provider. Discuss vitamin and herbal supplements with your physician, and keep him informed of any changes you make and improvements you notice in your condition. The journey to a healthier life begins with a healthy amount of care and old-fashioned common sense.

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for AsthmaDocs.com. To learn more about natural asthma remedies and asthma treatments, please visit our site.

How to survive seasonal allergies and ensure continued asthma relief

                    

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Spring is in the air and so are the allergens. Over the next few months grasses, trees and weeds will release huge quantities of pollen into the air as part of their reproductive cycle. For those suffering from allergic asthma or seasonal allergies it is a time when symptoms worsen, eyes water and noses run.

The most common advice given to those allergic to pollen is to remain indoors when pollen release occurs. However this happens at different times for different plants. On warm and sunny days most grasses release pollen from early morning onwards. On damp mornings the release will be delayed until the ground moisture evaporates. Some species of grass release their pollen in the afternoon, so if you are allergic to several types you may not get a window of avoidance at any time of day.

Even with an allergy to only one type of pollen, it can affect you despite your efforts to avoid the time and area where pollen release occurs. As the day draws to a close cooling pollen-carrying air falls towards the ground. This can lead to sufferers experiencing problems during the night. Wind-blown pollen can travel great distances. Ragweed can spread so far that it has even been detected 400 miles out to sea.

If you can identify the pollen that triggers your symptoms you can try to plan your day accordingly. You can get a clue from the time of year that you experience problems. Tree pollen is usually released in the spring, grass pollen in late spring and early summer, and weed pollens in late summer into autumn. A doctor can organise tests to further narrow down the culprit. Having identified the offending pollen try to remain indoors when it is being released.

Try to keep track of the pollen count in your area. Remember the pollen count is usually taken the day before it is broadcast. Rain or cool weather can reduce the count. Hot weather or short thunderstorms can increase it. Plants tend to retain their pollen on cloudy days, so expect a higher than average release on the next sunny day.

The National Allergy Bureau pollen report gives information on conditions in the US and Canada at
www.aaaai.org/nab/index.cfm?p=pollen

Polleninfo gives pollen forecasts for across Europe at www.polleninfo.org

You can use over the counter (OTC) medication to relieve symptoms if it does not interfere with other medications. Consult your doctor to make sure there will be no adverse affects.

Although pollen is probably the most difficult allergen to avoid there are steps you can take to minimize your exposure.

1. If possible only work outside at times when the pollen count is low. The mornings of cooler, less sunny days are best.

2. Introduce more insect-pollinated plants (usually the more attractive, colorful ones) into your garden, as their heavier pollen is less likely to become airborne. If you can identify the plant that affects you, exclude that plant from your garden. If grass pollen affects you but do not want to lose your lawn, get someone else to keep the grass short.

3. Keep windows shut tight at times of pollen release, during high pollen counts, and in the early hours of the night when airborne pollen returns to ground level.

4. Dry all washing indoors to prevent pollen gathering on clothes and bedding. Ideally dry clothes in a tumble-dryer.

5. If you spend a prolonged period outside when the pollen count is high, you should ideally take a shower and wash your hair when you get in, especially if it is thick or long. At least try to rinse your hair to get rid of any pollen.

6. Keep a set of clothes that you only wear indoors. Clothes worn outside could be full of pollen. Avoid taking your outdoor clothes into the bedroom.

Perhaps the most effective solution is to leave the area. If circumstances permit, move nearer the equator for a while. The plants that affect you will have finished pollinating. Alternatively move to a high mountainous area or a windy seacoast.

David Kane is the author of 101 Top Tips for Asthma Relief. He has produced a number of resources to help asthma sufferers monitor and control their condition.Find these at his web site http://www.asthma-relieftips.com